Dining & Culinary Services

Can I change my meal plan?
You may change or cancel your meal plan up to 5pm the day before the meal plan contract starts. Specific dates may be found on the meal plan contract. After that time you many only change to a plan with more meals per week.

During an Unlimited Access all-you-care-to-eat meal period, can I get as much as I want on my first visit to the line?
Students are encouraged to take a reasonable amount of food — “take what you want, but please eat what you take.” By not over-portioning and creating nutritionally balanced plates, we are taking one of the biggest steps towards reducing waste. Most of our business comes at peak meal periods and our chefs are preparing food in smaller batches to offer you the best quality and freshest food possible. If you would like additional food, you are welcome to go back for seconds after you have eaten your initial serving. Don’t forget that these meal periods are Unlimited Access—you can come back into The Commons as many times as you’d like, so come back later or when there are less lines.

The prices seem really high and I’m worried I’ll run out of Dining Dollars by the end of the semester.
This is probably the most common concern among Meal Plan patrons. The Dining Dollar program was designed to get you through the semester with nutritionally balanced meals, but you need to do your part in budgeting. Please remember to take into account the meals you don’t plan to eat on campus, the pizza party you’re attending on Saturday with a group or the weekends you go home or that Wednesday night dinner off-campus. Also remember that Dining Dollars are designed to purchase a nutritionally sound meal and not necessarily meant to purchase groceries or lattes.

Is there someone to talk with if I encounter a problem with service or food during a Dining Service meal?
Yes. Ask any worker to point you in the direction of the Dining & Culinary Services Manager on duty. Our team of Managers and Student Managers is here to serve you and will be happy to listen to any concerns you might have. You may also email us directly at dining@plu.edu or call our main office at 535-7472.

What do I do if I cannot make it to an all-you-care-to-eat meal period?
We offer a Meal Away program for people who have commitments that overlap with an all-you-care-to-eat meal period. Go online to www.plu.edu/~dining/meals_away.htm to order your meal. You must provide 24 hours notice, your meal will be ready for you to pick up at the Good Things line in The Commons during the pick up time you specify.

There doesn’t seem to be much variety, is the dinner menu the same every night?
The dinner menu does change around from night to night. Crave will alternate between salmon and mahi mahi for a fish choice and you will see some “comfort food” choices here too, pot roast, mashed potatoes, and fried chicken to name a few. Aglio is always changing pizzas, there’s a wide variety of choices here throughout the week and you’ll even see some mostaccioli and lasagna here too. Cross Cultures will change at least on a weekly basis, and example from Mexican week you can have chicken fajitas, port carnitas or a veggie fajita or even a dish of red beans and rice. Good Things serves custom made deli sandwiches and wraps every night.

The cashier told me that my card is unacceptable. Why, and what do I do about it?
Cards must not have any cracks, breaks, holes or adhesive in or on them, it compromises the integrity of the card and our machines. Also your picture must be visible so it is easy to identify your features, this is for your safety so someone cannot use your meals. Contact the Campus Concierge Desk for a new ID. A replacement fee of $5.00 will be charged as long as you produce your current card.